Grow Delicious Peaches (Here’s How)

All of my family members know how much of a sucker I am for a juicy peach in the middle of Summer! I’ve always made it a point to buy peaches from my local farmers, and they rarely disappoint! This year, I decided to try my hand at growing peach trees, and we cannot wait for our first crop! Keep reading for tips and tricks.

Peaches grow best in grow zones 5-9. Even when grown in these areas, it will take a few years to see your fruit tree actually bear a peach or two, but don’t get dismayed!

If you live in a colder climate, peach varieties like Frost, Alvalon Pride, and Honey Babe do exceptionally well and are extremely cold hardy!

Once you’ve determined whether or not you reside in the right grow zone, it’s time to pick a spot perfect for your peaches. Peach trees LOVE areas of full sun. Make sure your plants get at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.

It might be tempting to grow your peach trees in a grassy area, but this is the worst thing you could do! Grass sucks the nutrients from your sprouting trees, keep it away from your peach trees for the first few years of the grow cycle.

If you decide to grow trees, you’ll need to prune them back every winter. Pruning your fruit trees is necessary to the health of the tree. Keep branches 18 inches long and at least the width of a pencil. Trim back any branches that might create “too much shade.” This will prevent peach blossoms from blooming.

When growing peaches, gardeners may notice a variety of fungal infections developing. Evenly apply a lime-sulfur spray as your tree is budding (make absolutely sure to read the instructions on your label!) to prevent fungal diseases and other garden pests.